3. The next thing is to show you what connection there is between these two, obedience and this good, or the reason of the Lord's deal- ing thus.
[1.] God doth it partly out of his general justice, as he is gover- nor of the world : his holy nature doth delight in holiness, and there- fore it is requisite, ut bonis bene sit, et ojialis male — that it should be well with them that do well, and evil with them that do evil, and such dealing a man should have from God as he dealeth out to God : Fs. xviii. 25, 26, ' With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful, and with the upright thou wilt show thyself upright, and with the pure thou wilt show thyself pure, and with the froward thou wilt show thy- self froward.' In the general, that it should be well with the righteous, and ill with the wicked ; there is an argument in the governing justice of God : but then, to come to particulars, that it should be so ill with the wicked, here is exacta ratio justi ; but that it should be so well with men imperfectly righteous, this is moderate justice mixed with undeserved mercy.
[2.] There is his gracious promise and covenant ; heaven and earth are laid at the feet of godliness : 1 Tim. iv. 8, ' Godliness hath the promise of this life and that which is to come.' Something during our service in this world.
The second point is, that it is of no small benefit to see and observe what good we have by obedience to God.
1. It will increase our esteem of his grace. That the little and slender obedience that we yield to his law should have such respect 'and acceptance with him as to be recompensed with so much peace, and comfort, and protection, and so many blessings : ' Lord, Avhat am I, and what is my lather's house ? ' Oh, what a good master have we ! When the saints are crowned, they cast their crowns at the Lamb's feet, Eev. iv. 10. We hold all by his mercy : Luke xvii. 10, ' When we have done all, we are unprofitable servants;' not in compliment, but in truth of heart, we are unprofitable servants. That God should respect us, it is not for the dignity of the work, but merely for his own grace.
Ver. 5Q.] sermons upon psalm cxix. 103
2. It is of use that we may justify God against tlic reproaches and pre- judices of carnal men, who think God is indifferent to good and evil, and that all things come alike to all, that it is in vain to be strict and precise, that there is no reward to the good: Mai. iii. 14, ' It is in vain to serve God, and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinances ? ' Yea, the temptation may befall God's own children, and be forcibly borne in upon their hearts: Ps. Ixxiii. 13, ' Verily I have cleansed my hands in vain.' We think all is lost labour. Now, to produce the sweet consolations of God, and his temporal supplies, and the manifold bless- ings bestowed upon us, it is a good stay to our hearts, and enables us to justify God against the scorns and reproaches of the world.
3. It is of use to check our murmurings. If we endure anything for God, we are apt to repine, and pitch upon that evil we receive from his hand, passing over the good. A little evil, like one humour out of order, or one member out of joint, disturbeth the whole body ; so we, by poring upon the evil we endure, pass over all his other bounty : Mai. i. 2, ' Wherein hast thou loved us ? ' God cannot endure to have his love suspected or undervalued ; and yet people are apt to do so when dispensations are anything cross to their desires and expecta- tions. But now it is a great check, to consider that if we have our troubles, we have also our consolations; and we should rather look upon the good that cometh to us in pleasing God, than the temporal and light afflictions we meet withal in his service : Job ii. 10, ' (Shall we receive good at the hands of God, and not evil ? '
4. It is an encouragement to us in well-doing, the more proofs and tokens we have of his supportation. We are wrought upon by the senses ; as Jer. ii. 19, ' Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thyback- slidings reprove thee : see wliat an evil and bitter thing it is to for- sake the Lord ; ' and ver. 23, ' See thy way in the valley, and know what thou hast done,' As parents, when their children smart for eating raw diet, they upbraid them with it : It is for eating your green fruit; so doth the Lord come to his people : Now you see the evil of your doings. So, on the contrary, it doth engage us to strict walking to see how God owneth it ; so doth God appeal to us by experience :
' Have I been a land of darkness to you, or a barren wilderness ? ' Jer. ii. 31 ; Micah ii. 7, ' Do not my words do good to them that walk uprightly ? ' Look about you, survey all your comforts ; did sin pro- cure these mercies, or godliness ? Have you not found sensible benefit by being sincere in my service ?